Make Way highballing in front in his trial at Menangle. He will be looking for the lead again on Saturday. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Ants: Make Way looking magnificent and his work points to big run on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 12 June 2020
Make Way has a slightly sticky draw at Menangle on Saturday night but will still be hard to beat, says leading horseman Anthony Butt.
The speedy four-year-old will line up at six on the gate in the opening event, an A$18,360 mile, and Butt says he’ll use the horse’s gate speed.
“We’ll come out and have a look. The favourite Motu Gatecrasher is in two and he’s got a bit of speed but we’ll go forward.
“He seems really good so I think he’ll be hard to beat.”
Trainer Sonya Smith elected to start Make Way this week, rather than wait for a more suitable 2300 metre race next Saturday, after the nominations showed he would slot in nicely into the second tier of free-for-allers.
Smith was expecting he might have to face tougher rivals on Saturday and, after his excellent trial win last week, was only too happy to start.
“His work has been really good since that trial,” says Butt. “He’s training as well as ever - and he looks magnificent in the coat.
“You’re always a bit sceptical how they’ll go after being gelded but he hasn’t missed a beat and his attitude has been really good. He’s been way better around the place.”
Butt says, on paper, Make Way is up to most in the field including Harry Martin’s Double Encounter who has drawn one inside him.
“It’s never easy at Menangle when you get up in grade but he’s made a good start to the season and he should be in for another good prep.
“There aren’t any features for the next couple of months but by October it will be full on and he will have a thousand options. There are good races in Melbourne and even Brisbane which has indicated it wants to take up the gap from the cancellation of the Interdominions in December.”
Make Way races at 6.57pm NZ time at Menangle on Saturday night.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Dreams Of Eric
7.13pm
“It’s an even field but he’s drawn to lead and I’m sure he’ll go well again.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
7.15pm
“He’s a strong each-way chance again. He’s looking great and he’s a real slugger. Some people under-rate him but he keeps getting the money.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.19pm
“She tied up on us again after her last start but her bloods are good again so it looks like she’s over that. At her best she’d be a serious chance. She could be in need of a race or two to be on the very top of her game but, if she gets a good trip, I could see her being right in it.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
9.09pm
“Last week’s debacle was all self inflicted. She gets herself so wound up. The weird thing is that in front she’s lovely, and drops the bit, but getting there is the hardest part. We’ve had problems with her missing the start. If she did things right, and could lead from one, I can’t see how they’d beat her, but that’s a big question mark.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
9.09pm
“His last start was a complete non-event, it was only a sprint up the straight. With any kind of a trip on Friday he’ll show them more of what he can do. Lincoln Linda has more speed than him but he’s got the manners and he tries like hell.”
